★ Must-know
📌 The humanistic approach views people as self-determining active agents with free will, whereas deterministic approaches explain behaviour as shaped by forces outside the person’s control.
📌 Humanistic psychologists prioritise the subjective experience of the individual rather than seeking general laws of behaviour.
Further detail
Humanistic freedom contrasts with behaviourist control and psychodynamic conflict.
1. When did the humanistic approach emerge as a response to dissatisfaction with behaviourism and psychodynamic psychology?
2. How does the humanistic approach explain human behaviour differently from a deterministic approach?
3. What do humanistic psychologists prioritise when studying behaviour?
When did the humanistic approach emerge?
In the 1950s and 1960s.
How does the humanistic approach view human behaviour?
As self-determining active agents with free will.
How do deterministic approaches explain behaviour?
As shaped by forces outside the person’s control.
What do humanistic psychologists prioritise over general laws of behaviour?
The subjective experience of the individual.
What does Maslow's hierarchy of needs propose about human needs arrangement?
They are arranged from basic needs at the bottom to higher-order needs at the top.
Who proposed the hierarchy of needs theory?
Maslow.
It covers the core concepts of Humanistic Approach in Psychology, organized by topic with the key definitions, explanations and takeaways, so it's easier to learn and remember.
Read the full study guide →The practice quiz has 18 multiple-choice questions, each with an explanation. Use it to check what you know and find your gaps.
Take the quiz (18 questions) →There are 29 flashcards on Humanistic Approach in Psychology, with a question on the front and the answer on the back. Try to recall each answer before you flip, and let spaced repetition bring back the ones you miss.
See all 29 flashcards →Upload a PDF or paste your notes. Revizly writes a study guide, a practice quiz and flashcards in about a minute.